AB0631 Impact of Behçet’s Syndrome on work activity and productivity: results from a sub-analysis of the BODI Project cohort.
Authors: R. Laconi, A. Floris, G. Espinosa, G. Lopalco, L. Serpa Pinto, N. Kougkas, J. Sota, A. Lo Monaco, M. Govoni, L. Cantarini, G. Bertsias, J. Correia, F. Iannone, R. Cervera, C. Vasconcelos, A. Mathieu, A. Cauli, M. Piga
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Behçet’s Syndrome (BS) is a multisystem recurring inflammatory disorder characterised by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, which can vary from limited mucocutaneous lesions up to severe and even life-threatening events. Objectives To evaluate the impact of BS on the patients’ work activity and productivity. Methods A sub-cohort of 148 patients from the original Behçet’s syndrome Overall Damage Index (BODI) Project study was enrolled. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: General Health (WPAI:GH) questionnaire was administered. Demographics, disease duration, comorbidity, major organ involvement, ongoing therapy, Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Patient Global Assessment (PtGA), and the BODI were recorded. Multiple regression models were built to investigate the independent effect of BS features on WPAI. Results Overall, 97 (65.6%) out of 148 patients who completed the WPAI:GH questionnaire resulted working for pay; 22 out of 97 (27.8%) patients reported missing work in the past week due to their health, accounting for a mean (SD) of 34.4% (17.8) of their working time (absenteeism). The only factor significantly associated with absenteeism in multivariate analysis was the presence of ocular damage, as assessed by the BODI (β 0.255, p = 0.027). Although 93 patients reported that they worked in the previous week, mean 27.3% (30.7) of their actual work productivity was impaired due to their health problem (presenteeism), with only 37 (38.5%) patients reporting no such loss. Factors associated with work impairment were female gender (β 0.319, p = 0.001), higher PtGA (β 0.298, p = 0.002), and an increased BODI score in the last 2 years follow-up (β 0.212 for one-point increased BODI score, p = 0.024). Finally, 99 (66.9%) of the total 148 patients complained of a daily activity impairment, reporting that a mean of 33.3% (30.6) of their regular daily activities had been prevented due to their health problems. Factors significantly associated with patients’ daily activity impairment were younger age at enrolment (β 0.187, p = 0.021), higher BDCAF disease activity (β 0.235, p = 0.002) and fibromyalgia (β 0.324, p = 0.033). Conclusion BS can lead to missing work time and significantly affect both the patient’s work productivity and daily activities. Active disease seems to be one of the major determinants together with a higher burden of damage and the association of some specific comorbidities, such as fibromyalgia. Table 1. WPAI:GH questionnaire results Variables n° Mean (SD) All patients 148 Patients working for pay 97 Percent work time missed due to health 97 7.9 (21.7) Percent work time missed due to health (patients with missed time &gt;0) * 22 34.4 (17.8) Patients who actually worked in the past seven days** 93 Percent impairment while working due to health 93 27.3 (30.7) Percent impairment while working due to health (pts with % impairment while working &gt; 0) *** 56 45.4 (27.2) Percent activity impairment due to health 148 33.3 (30.6) Percent activity impairment due to health (those with % activity impairment &gt;0) 99 49.8 (23.9) * Patients working for pay who missed at least on hour of work, 22/97 = 22.7%. ** Patients working for pay, but who worked for &gt; 0 hours in the last week = 93/97 *** Patients with impairment while working &gt; 0 among patients who actually worked in the previous 7 day = 56/93. Disclosure of Interests None declared